Page 19 of Chieftain
I grabbed her slender wrist and drew the tiny human back to her seat. "Emmy, you must understand, even though we have the trajectory of where the skiffs are headed, it may still take minas—I mean months—to find your friends.”
“Plus, the Bardaga’s directive is to guard the Earth, not jaunt across space hunting lost humans." Charick's arms crossed over his chest. He looked like a pouting youngling.
Emmy's face dropped, taking on an expression that made me concerned we were in danger of seeing more human tears. I resisted the urge to punch Charick, giving Emmy's hand a reassuring squeeze.
“The Bardaga has guarded this galaxy for nearly thirty Earth years. The Alliance will consent to a short leave of absence from our duties.
“Thank you,” Emmy sniffled. Her hand touched my forearm, giving a squeeze of very little strength, yet it held inordinate power over me. Her palm was warm against my skin, and the gratitude in her sparkling deep green eyes stroked over me like a caress.
"If we're getting leave, I could check out the Lacaille space station," Jutuk suggested, holding his cup out to Orzon for a refill of ale. "My sister lives there."
Emmy smiled, her beautiful face dancing with a mixture of relief, gratitude, and a flash of something that might be cunning. Her smile widened, and she lifted her hand, kissing the tips of her fingers, and blew across them in Jutuk's direction. "Aren't you sweet? Thank you!"
Jutuk's eyes widened, and a dark bronze flush crept to his cheeks. I wanted to hit him.
“I wouldn’t mind heading to the Eridani system," Tarook chimed in. "The Trogvyk are probably taking your friend to the hedonism ship Hartouk Lenaii.” A wicked grin curved my weapon master’s mouth. “I can look for your friend while I, um… am relaxing.”
A sound trickled from Emmy's lips, high-pitched and lyrical. It warmed me from the inside out, clenching my stomach and making my cock jerk.
"You're such a sweetheart," she beamed at my weapons master. "Horny, but a sweetheart."
Tarook lifted his hands, patting his head for the horns Emmy mentioned, which only made her laugh harder, the sound having a definite effect on my cock. I shifted and adjusted to make myself more comfortable.
What was it about this tiny human female?
"Well, hell, I'm not staying on the ship like some Gomer," Daicon announced, his palm accenting his decision with a thud against the tabletop. "I'll head to the Gilese system. They may beusing slaves in the mines again, although I don't know what a bitty thing like you could do in a mine."
"I thought you swore never to set foot on the mines again?" Charick's voice was droll.
Daicon sent the Sage a hard snort but smiled broadly when his attention turned back to Emmy. “I swore to never set foot on a Gilese moon as aprisoneragain. This is for an altruistic reason. Who better than me to slip around the moons unseen?"
"Aren't you the biggest, sweetest old teddy bear?" My gut clenched at the words Emmy gave to Daicon. Her tone was soft and breathy—I wanted that sound only for myself.
"I don't know what a teddy bear is, but I like how you said that." My war-hardened battle chief melted before my eyes.
Next to him, Hakkar cleared his throat.
Charick slammed his fist on the table again before pointing accusingly in Hakkar's direction. "You, our healer, wish to leave the ship. What if we require you?"
Hakkar lifted his chin in defiance. "If we are on leave with no prisoners in our hold, my apprentice Toovis is perfectly capable of handling Medi-Bay in my absence." The healer's eyes met mine. "There have been reports of a new plant propagation that is said to offer relief to the gravity sickness that affects so many on Tau Ceti." His gaze flickered to Emmy. "Of course, I would look for your friend during my stay there."
"Darlings. All of you." Emmy made the finger blow gesture toward each of my council, save Charick.
My council, the strongest, bravest warriors in the galaxy, turned to piles of grinning mush before my eyes. Emmy managed to sway each warrior to her cause in just a fewmoments. This beautiful creature possessed some power I’d never encountered before. Had she brought some drug from the Trogvyk skip that affected us so strongly. Was she one of the sorceresses mentioned throughout Earth's history texts? Perhaps all Earth women held this power, but she was the only one brave enough to wield it. Like my crew, I was lost to her power, whatever it might be.
"What will you do during leave, Chieftain," Jutuk asked, his eyes flickering to the human. My chest swelled with his implication that Emmy would be at my side. I pushed away the feeling, focusing on the mission at hand.
“We will take the Bardaga to the Lernax Centauri space station. The head of our spy network resides there. If there is talk of Emmy’s friends, he will know it.”
I felt the tingle of Emmy's touch land on my arm again before she softly murmured. "Thank you.
Instead of distracting me, this time, her touch focused my mind. “Jutuk, send a comm to Alliance headquarters with our request for ninety days' leave. The Douraat with Chieftain Ortuaga is in the Eridani system. They are the best choice to take over Earth's patrol until we return. Each of you prepare your skiffs. Tarook, I don’t want anyone leaving unarmed. Remember, our priority is to find and rescue Emmy’s friends—there may be a need to battle.”
"Yes, Chieftain." My weapons master stood with a nod of respect in my direction before his gaze flickered to Emmy, a softness creeping over his features.
I didn’t like it.
“Orzon, take Emmy to her quarters.”
